Tape dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tape dispenser using a feed roll which also serves as the anvil against which a sharp cutting member is directed for cutting tape fed by the roller into desired lengths.

"United States Patent Inventor Richard P. De Neui Lake Elmo, Minn. Appl. No. 826,947 Filed May 22, 1969 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 Assignee Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company St. Paul, Minn. a corporation of Delaware TAPE DISPENSING APPARA'ii/S 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 83/205, 83/276, 83/649, 83/922, 225/90 Int. Cl. 826d 5/26 [50] Field of Search 83/203,

[56] References Cited.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,209 11/1940 Groh et a1 83/233X 2,260,489 10/1941 Sim 83/231 2,566,733 9/ 1951 Krueger 225/90X 2,748,861 6/1956 Von Stoeser 83/203 Primary ExaminerFrank T. Yost AttorneyKinney, Alexander, Sell, Steldt and Delahunt ABSTRACT: A tape dispenser using a feed roll which also serves as the anvil against which a sharp cutting member is directed for cutting tape fed by the roller into desired lengths.

TAPE DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND or THE lNVENTION tape from the feed wheel are also known in the art. Examples of the previously known structures which are believed to be related to the present invention are shown in patents discussed below. Krueger U.S. Pat. No. 3,102,670 shows a feed wheel structure for drawing adhesive tape from a supply roll across the surface such that the tape may be easily lifted from the feed wheel. However, in this patent the tape has to be lifted from the feed wheel into contact with a fixed cutting blade to sever the tape lengths. Krueger U.S. Pat. No. 2,566,733, illustrates a feed roll which has a width narrower than the width of the tape, allowing the tape to be lifted from the feed roll against the surface of a fixed knife to remove and sever the dispensed lengths of tape. A third patent is Casey U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,125, which discloses a semiautomatic dispenser having feed wheel, the tape engaging surface of which is formed by bristles as in a brush and against which a cutting member is driven to cut the tape into severed lengths. The tape is easily lifted from the surface of this wheel.

The present invention affords a structure providing a positive tape feeding surface, a generally rigid surface against which the tape may be cut, and a surface which supports in a dispensed position less than the entire width of the tape permitting easy removal of the tape from the feed roller.

The advantages of the structure of the present invention over the references, believed to be pertinent, include just such advantages, a more positive feed, the cutting of the dispensed lengths of tape on the surface of the feed wheel, and a surface from which the tape may be easily removed.

The tape dispenser of the present invention comprises means for supporting a supply of tape, a driven feed roll engageable with the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surface of the tape and formed of a dense urethane which will permit light adhesion of the adhesive to the roll and which will support the tape for cutting by a sharp cutting member moving radially ofthe roll through the tape.

The present invention will be more fully understood after reading the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. I is an elevational view of the dispenser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view ofthe dispenser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the dispensing wheel and cutter; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective detailed view of the feed wheel and cutter ofthe dispenser of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the tape dispenser, generally designated 5, comprises a first vertical sideplate 6 and a transversely spaced sideplate 7 joined by a base 8. Sideplate 6 supports a shaft 9 upon which is mounted a hub 10 for supporting a supply roll of tape ll. A guide roll 12 is also mounted on the sideplate 6 to guide the tape from the supply roll to the feed wheel.

The feed wheel is generally designated 13 and comprises a first feed roller having a large diameter covered hub 14 and a second smaller feed roller having a covered hub 22. The hub 14 has an outer tire 15 molded thereon. This feed wheel is mounted on a shaft 16 driven through a suitable one-way clutch from a hand-operatable lever 17. The shaft 16 is rotatably supported in the sideplates 6 and 7, and adjustable stops may be provided in the sideplate 7 to limit the extent of rotary movement of the lever 17 in feeding varying predetermined lengths of tape.

A second shaft 20 is mounted on the sideplate 7 and extends therefrom toward the side of the hub 14. On the shaft 20 is mounted the smaller diameter hub 22 formed with an outer tire 24, with the peripheral surface of the tire 24 mounted to be tangent to the upper peripheral surface of the tire 15. The first feed roller and the second feed roller 22 support the tape 11 on their tangent surfaces in a position opposite a solenoid 24. The diameter of the smaller feed roller is preferably less than the radial dimension of the large feed roller.

As disclosed, the solenoid 24 has an armature 25 upon one end ofwhich is attached a cutting blade 26 adapted for cutting the tape 11. The blade 26 moves in a generally radial direction relative to the feed rollers and cuts the tape 10 against the tangent surfaces of the feed wheel 13 and cuts through the tape and against or possibly into the surface of the feed rollers irrespective of the rotational position of the feed wheel 13. After the cutting operation the armature is returned to its normal retracted position by springs 27.

Alternatively, the blade could be mounted oblique to the tangent line and be mounted on an arm pivotally mounted on a pin normal to the shaft 16 and positioned adjacent the periphery of the feed wheel 13 with a heavy spring urging the blade against the tangent line of the tired surfaces of the feed wheel, with the solenoid connected to the lever on the side of the pivot opposite the blade to raise the blade as the feed handle or lever 17 is moved from a normal rest position to rotate the feed wheel.

The smaller feed roller is normally biased toward the ad jacent face of the large feed roller by a spring 28 disposed between the hub 22 of the small feed roller and the sideplate 7 to have a continuous tangential line defined on the feed wheel surface. Driving movement of the surface of the tire 15 under the force of the lever 17 may rotate the smaller feed roller through the frictional contact of the rollers, and contact of the tape 11 with the two rollers will drive them at a generally uniform surface speed to feed a tape evenly from the supply roll to a dispensed position.

Suitable switch means (not shown) may be associated with the stop members, or with the shaft 16, to be actuated upon the rotational movement of the lever 17 to a position engaging one of the stops upon the termination of its forward feeding motion, or upon its free return movement to its normal position as shown in FIG. 1. The switch means will be connected through a suitable circuit and means adapting for connection to a supply ofelectricity to drive the solenoid 24.

The tape issupported on the hub Ill] such that the center thereof extends along the edge of the surface 15 adjacent the plate 7. Thus the dispensed and severed lengths of tape may be easily grasped along the edge and peeled from the feed wheel The tire surfaces 15 and 24 ofthe hubs l4 and 22 may comprise a natural or synthetic elastomer fulfilling these characteristics: a Shore A hardness (ASTM D-676-58T) of between 60 and 95, preferably about a tensile strength, in p.s.i. (ASTM D-4l2-59) ofat least 1,500, preferably L800; a tear strength (ASTM D624-54) of at least 300 p.s.i., preferably 400 p.s.i.; elongation at break (ASTM D-4l2-59) of at least 200 percent, preferably 300 percent; and a compression settASTM 39555-A) of no more than 5 percent, preferably 1 percent or less; at 77 F. (25 C.).

Such tires can be prepared from a curred sheet of the elastomer having a thickness of between about H16 and Vi inch cut to suitable width and length corresponding to the dimensions of the hub. The elastomer can be attached to the hub surface by any of the well known adhesive systems. A preferred method is to form the elastomer in place by use of a castable, low-temperature curring system comprising one of the commercially available room temperature curring silicone systems, epoxy elastomer systems such as are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,359, or the two-part urethane elastomers. For example, a two-part urethane elastomer such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,251,322 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,589 can be used. In this method the hub is coaxially located in a horizontal circular mold with a slightly larger diameter than the desired final diameter of the cutting wheel.

The two-part polyethyl urethane system is mixed in such proportions as to provide about a percent excess of isocyanate over the theoretical requirement, the mixture evacuated to remove entrapped air bubbles, and the deaerated mixture poured into the annular space between the hub and the mold. The mixture may be allowed to remain at room temperature until curred, which usually requires a period of several days to a week, or it may be allowed to jell and the mold then placed in an oven at about 200 to 250 F. for l to 4 hours. After cure the wheel can be mounted on suitable equipment, such as a woodworking lathe, and the outer surface cut or ground to the desired final dimension.

The elastomer may be modified, particularly where ready release of the adhesive surface of the tape is required, by adding to the liquid casting mixture or to the uncurred gum stock 1 to 5 percent by weight of a compatible silicone oil, low molecular weight oligomers of hydrolyzed dimethyl silicone dihalides.

An elastomer surface as described will afford a tape drive surface and an anvil surface against which even a sharp blade such as a razor blade, may be driven to provide many cutting cycles before appreciable damage to the feed wheel surfaces or blade dulling occurs. The feed wheel surfaces are strong and elastic sufficiently to afford a cutting of the tape supported thereon and yet yield to prevent excessive dulling of the cutting edge of the blade as a result of the shock of the cutting action.

iclaim:

l. A taping machine comprising:

a supporting structure for a supply of tape;

a driven feed roller mounted on said supporting structure and having a first diameter, said feed roller being formed with a hub and an outer surface formed of an elastomer and defining a peripheral surface upon which the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surface of a tape to be dispensed may engage;

a second feed roller of a second smaller diameter disposed adjacent the first driven feed roller with the peripheral surface of the second feed roller tangential with the peripheral surface of the first driven feed roller and mounted on an axis disposed inward of the periphery of the driven feed roller;

means biasing said second feed roller toward said first feed roller such that at said tangential point the feed rollers are substantially in contact with each other; and

cutting means disposed adjacent said tangent line of said first and second feed rollers and operative in a direction toward said first and second feed rollers for severing said tape, said cutting means being movable a distance to sever the tape disposed on said feed rollers and to out against the surface of the feed rollers.

2. A taping machine according to claim 1 wherein the elastomer has the following characteristics: a Shore A hardness of between 60 and 95, a tensile strength of at least 1,500 p.s.i., a tear strength of at least 300 p.s.i., elongation at break of at least 200 percent, and a compression set of no more than 5 percent. i

3. A taping machine according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of said second feed roller is less than the radial dimension of the driven feed roller.

4. A taping machine according to claim 3 wherein the cutting means comprises a cutting blade substantially aligned with the tangent line of the feed rollers and movable toward said feed rollers and against the surfaces thereof.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE "CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Inventor-(s) Richard P De Neui It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Specification:

001. 2, line 61, change "curred" to cured Col. 2, line 67, change "curring" to curing Col. 2, line 68, change "curring" to curing Col. 3, line 7, change "curred" to cured Col. 3, line 15 change "uncurred" to uncured In the Claims Col. 3, line 32 after "said" insert driven Col. line 1, delete "and"; after "a" insert cylindrical Col. 4, line 2 delete "to"; and before "be" insert may and after "be" insert engaged Col. 4 line 3, delete "dispensed may engage" C01. line 5 delete "first"; and after "roller" insert said second feed roller being formed with a hub having an outer surface formed of an elastomer defini a cylindrical outer peripheral surface thereof, said cute and delete "with the".

Col. 4 line 6 after "roller" insert being disposed Col. line 7, after "of" delete the first a; befoze"driven" insert said Col. line 10 delete "first" Col. l, line 13, delete "tangent line" contd. l

FORM [JO-1050 (10-69) 6 USCOMM-DC 00 Patent No. 3,563,122 Dated February 16 197i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated February 16, 197

Patent No. 3563.122

Inv t fl Richard P. De Neui It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

contd..

Col. 4 line 13, before "of" insert tangential and before "and" point Col. l line 1 delete "first" t driven feed roller before (first occurrence) inser and change "rollers" to "second" insert said roller Col. l line 15 delete "first and second" line 18, after "the" insert elastomer Col. 4, and change "surface" to surfaces Signed and sealed this 13th day of June 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,J'R. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer USCOMMDC 603 A e nu nnnluv nmunun nrtlrrloll n- F ORM PO-IOSD (10-69) 

1. A taping machine comprising: a supporting structure for a supply of tape; a driven feed roller mounted on said supporting structure and having a first diameter, said feed roller being formed with a hub and an outer surface formed of an elastomer and defining a peripheral surface upon which the pressure-sensitive adhesive coated surface of a tape to be dispensed may engage; a second feed roller of a second smaller diameter disposed adjacent the first driven feed roller with the peripheral surface of the second feed roller tangential with the peripheral surface of the first driven feed roller and mounted on an axis disposed inward of the periphery of the driven feed roller; means biasing said second feed roller toward said first feed roller such that at said tangential point the feed rollers are substantially in contact with each other; and cutting means disposed adjacent said tangent line of said first and second feed rollers and operative in a direction toward said first and second feed rollers for severing said tape, said cutting means being movable a distance to sever the tape disposed on said feed rollers and to cut against the surface of the feed roLlers.
 2. A taping machine according to claim 1 wherein the elastomer has the following characteristics: a Shore A2 hardness of between 60 and 95, a tensile strength of at least 1,500 p.s.i., a tear strength of at least 300 p.s.i., elongation at break of at least 200 percent, and a compression set of no more than 5 percent.
 3. A taping machine according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of said second feed roller is less than the radial dimension of the driven feed roller.
 4. A taping machine according to claim 3 wherein the cutting means comprises a cutting blade substantially aligned with the tangent line of the feed rollers and movable toward said feed rollers and against the surfaces thereof. 